Seoul's birthrate rebounds as births and marriages surge
After years of setting grim global records for the world’s lowest fertility rates, Korea’s sprawling capital is orchestrating an unexpected demographic turnaround. Driven by aggressive municipal welfare programs and shifting cultural attitudes, Seoul is witnessing a sustained surge in both births and marriages, offering a rare beacon of hope in East Asia’s ongoing demographic crisis. According to…
Seoul's birthrate has unexpectedly rebounded, bucking a global trend of low fertility rates. The South Korean capital is experiencing a surge in both births and marriages, a development that offers a rare glimmer of hope in East Asia's demographic crisis. According to Statistics Korea's annual data, Seoul registered 45,516 births in 2025, marking a 9.4 percent increase from the previous year.
This surge represents the fastest growth rate among all 17 regions in Korea and marks the second consecutive year of population expansion for the metropolis.
Seoul's total fertility rate - the average number of children expected per woman - has also shown a steady rebound. It reached 0.63 in 2025, up from a historic low of 0.55 in 2023 and consistently exceeding official projections. This positive trend appears to be accelerating, with the first six months of 2026 seeing an 18.7 percent increase in births compared to the same period in 2025.
The demographic turnaround in Seoul is attributed to aggressive municipal welfare programs and shifting cultural attitudes. This unexpected demographic turnaround in Seoul's capital city offers a beacon of hope amidst East Asia's ongoing demographic crisis.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Seoul's birthrate rebounds as births and marriages surge koreatimes.co.kr
